Outside In!

We began by anticipating a season. As Christmas Day gets closer, many people anticipate. Some anticipate the arrival of Santa. Some anticipate the arrival of a Savior. But in any case, there is a trace of excitement in the air that something or Someone wonderful is about to arrive.

Will the little Lord Jesus come to life in our living rooms? He could reveal HImself that way. In fact, He has been alive since the beginning of time. The real question is … just where is He now at this moment?

Recently when one of the strings of lights on our outside Christmas tree went out, my husband wanted to try to fix them right away. I suggested we leave them that way, as a reminder that not all people are connected to The Light.

Perhaps Jesus was born where both darkness and light could be seen together.

We more easily see Jesus in the midst of the holiday merriment than we do outside our warm circle of family and friends.

Perhaps Jesus’ Birth is said to have happened outside as a reminder to us to come outside our comfort zone. The homeless are outside.

There are those who are hungry for real food. There are those who would appear to be wealthy, who are in fact spiritually starving.

There are those who are not watching the splendor of fireworks, but are hearing something all too real … the sounds of war.

Go outside and look around. There is plenty of room for you, your family, your friends and those you may have never thought would be inside your circle.

However, they are inside God’s Circle of the Expanse of His Great Universe. And Jesus is right in the midst of all of you!

Matthew 25: 34-40 records Jesus’ Words to us:

Then the King will say to those on His Right,

“Come, you who are blessed by My Father;

take your inheritance,

the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat.

I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink.

I was a stranger and you invited Me in.

I needed clothes and you clothed Me.

I was sick and you looked after Me.

I was in prison and you came to visit Me.”

Then the righteous will answer Him,

“Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You,

or thirsty and give You something to drink?

When did we see You a stranger and invite You in,

or needing clothes and clothe You?

When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?”

The King will reply,

“I tell you the Truth,

whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me!”